A.D.
|eɪ-diː|
/ˌeɪˈdiː/
year of the Lord (era after Christ)
Etymology
'A.D.' originates from Latin, specifically the words 'Anno Domini', where 'anno' meant 'in the year' and 'domini' meant 'of the Lord'.
'A.D.' changed from the Medieval Latin phrase 'Anno Domini' used in ecclesiastical dating and eventually became abbreviated as 'A.D.' in English usage from the early modern period onward.
Initially it meant 'in the year of the Lord' (referring to years counted from the birth of Christ); over time it evolved into a conventional era label for years after that point and is now often used alongside or replaced by the secular label 'Common Era (CE)'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an abbreviation of the Latin phrase 'Anno Domini' used as a designation for years in the Gregorian and Julian calendars, indicating years after the traditional date of the birth of Jesus Christ.
A.D. is an abbreviation of 'Anno Domini.'
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Adjective 1
used before a year number to indicate that the year belongs to the era 'Anno Domini' (e.g., A.D. 1066).
A.D. 1066 is a famous year in English history.
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Last updated: 2025/09/22 07:15